China and the World Health Organization agreed to open an influenza research center in Beijing to identify and share knowledge about new strains.

Approval to open the center was given last week, when health officials and WHO Assistant Director-General Keiji Fukuda met in Beijing, China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement on its Web site today. Arrangements to formally designate the laboratory as a WHO collaborating centre are still being worked out, the United Nations health agency said.